Professional Development Sessions

Audience Strategy, Revenue, and the Power of Focus

Leader: Joanie Philipp, Cosmic Picture

Successful giant screen theaters do more than schedule films. They strategically program experiences that drive attendance, retention, and revenue. This session reframes film programming as a business strategy, blending audience insights with practical operational approaches and perhaps challenging a few habits along the way.
Explore the fastest growing demographic in museum audiences, the 55+ crowd, a group with discretionary time, income, and curiosity. We will share practical strategies for programming, scheduling, and marketing to this audience, especially during weekdays and shoulder seasons when filling seats can feel like a science experiment.
We will also tackle the question: Are you programming like a museum theater or a multiplex? Many theaters run five to seven films at once, unintentionally fragmenting audiences and diluting marketing impact. Through real examples, we will explore how fewer titles, clearer messaging, intentional programming and scheduling can strengthen engagement and improve box office results.
Participants will leave with practical ideas and a few new programming tools to help maximize the impact of their giant screen theaters.

Deal or No Deal: Realities of the producer/distributor/theater triangle, and other matters.

Moderator: Phil Streather

 Presenters:

  • Ryan Holota, Saskatchewan Science Centre
  • TBC
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Description:

Phil talks through the most pressing Giant Screen/Immersive issues of the day with “anchor tenant”, Ryan Holota, and new set of “guests”.

To the point, a little bit cheeky and very relevant this aims to be a must-see session.

More details coming soon!

Open Space

It’s back — again — because you rated it one of the most valuable, energizing sessions GSCA has ever hosted. Open Space returns for its third rendition as the ultimate conference kick-off: fast-moving, member-driven, and built around the real pressures you’re facing right now.

No panels. No pre-scripted talking points. You set the agenda in the room — then jump straight into focused conversations on the issues that are hitting hardest: staffing and retention, attendance volatility, rising operating costs, programming complexity, and the revenue pressure that’s reshaping every decision.

If you want the inside track on what the field is actually experiencing, the smartest ideas people are testing, and the priorities that will shape the sessions that follow… be in the room. This is where momentum starts — and where your people are.

Marketing Session - description coming soon